CULT-DE-SAC #2 (IGNITION PRESS)
The further we dive into the community of Willow Park, the further down the rabbit hole we travel. The Hanson family continues to discover that their new home is weird to say the least. However, Claire seems to be the only one that suspects that there is something more sinister at play here. But soon the rest of the family will learn that the weird rules are the least of their worries.
Cult-de-Sac #2 – Written By Cullen Bunn – Art By Fico Ossio – Colors By Ulises Arreola - Letters By Andworld Design – Edited By Jamie S. Rich - Published By Ignition Press
Credit: Ignition Press
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
STORY OVERVIEW:
Claire wakes up in bed and because of her dirty feet realizes that the crazy meeting she thought she had dreamt up, was very much real. The Hanson’s then get invited to the annual potluck picnic, where they have yet another strange encounter with their new neighbors. Well Martin sets up a tent in the back yard to camp with Owen to cut some of the tension and restore some normality for his son. Claire and Olivia have a creepy encounter with some roaches in the house. The strange happenings are starting to give way to weirder threats and happenings the longer the Hanson’s are in Willow Park.
WRITING:
This issue raises the weird and strange occurrences, well also adding a bit more of the sinister to the mix. Cullen Bunn is using this slow ramp up of events to make this story super creepy the longer it plays out. The way the neighbors act at the picnic isn’t just weird, but a bit offsetting as well. But Bunn really ups the creepiness with the silhouettes well Martin and Owen are camping. Well at the same time Claire and Olivia are attacked by roaches. These events may be looked at as coincidences on the surface, but the timing shows that they are deliberate in nature. By the time we see Martin stewing over his latest run in with Harold and the subsequent ending of this issue. We know for certain that the family are being targeted by something far more sinister than weird. The way Bunn is crafting and timing these reveals shows that he is slowly having our main characters enter into the mouth madness and this creates a great deal of suspense for what is next.
ARTWORK:
The artwork in this issue brings the madness, strangeness, and creepiness to life in a very real way. Fico Ossio reveals to the reader just how messed up the situation the Hanson’s find themselves in is. Ossio also ups the creepiness with the setting of a picture-perfect gated community. The setting is serene and unassuming, but what is playing out is anything but. The use of silhouettes and shadows play a huge role in making the reader feel uneasy. The use of the roaches is creepy and makes your skin crawl just by seeing them. The colors that Ulises Arreola uses make the setting unassuming, before highlighting the weird events that are transpiring. This gives an almost surreal feeling to the artwork, which is super effective. The lettering by Andworld Design’s is clear and easy to follow. But also helps out the creepy tone of the story, as every whisper feels personal. The art team really makes the creepy, uneasy feeling Cullen Bunn is going for with the story come to life and hit the reader in the face.
Check Out MY REVIEW OF CULT-DE-SAC #1
Final Thoughts:
Cult-de-Sac #2 deepens Willow Park’s mystery with a well-paced mix of family tension and escalating horror. Cullen Bunn builds the suspense effectively, while the art team makes every unsettling moment land. This is a strong follow-up and an easy Pull List pick for horror fans. If you like unsettling, slow burn types of horror this is a must grab at the LCS this week.
FINAL GRADE: 9.2/10
Let me know your thoughts on Cult-de-Sac #2 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
